Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has tried to avoid questioning over his record on indigenous welfare by claiming not to talk about domestic politics while overseas, but in the same media appearance laid into the opposition and One Nation for not supporting his planned crackdown on tech companies and immigration.
Mr Albanese touched down in Cupertino, California, the home of Silicon Valley, for the start of his eight-day overseas trip to the United States and the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York.
At Apple Headquarters, he held a secret meeting and tour of the company’s mothership, with the company’s former chief executive and current chairperson Tim Cook and the company’s executive team to talk about online safety. Mr Albanese has made the social media ban and controls of artificial intelligence a key policy focus of his second term.
At a press conference afterwards, Mr Albanese was questioned about criticism made by prominent indigenous leader and architect of the Voice proposal Megan Davies, about what she said was the Labor government’s negligence of indigenous children’s safety.
Mr Albanese shut down questioning, saying indigenous affairs was a domestic issue and one that he would not speak about while abroad.
“Sounds very much like not just a domestic question but a question related to…” the Prime Minister began, before it was pointed out to him that the United Nations focuses on the plight of indigenous peoples worldwide.
“Well, it hasn’t been raised with me at the UN at all. And of course, as you know, the state governments have responsibility for child protection.
“I’ve got a lot to say about when I’m in Australia, about all of these issues.”
He then deferred the issue to his Indigenous Affairs Minister, Malarndirri McCarthy. During the government’s first term, when proposing the failed referendum, Australian diplomats abroad would regularly champion the Voice as part of Australia’s foreign policy. Labor also appointed its first Ambassador for First Nation’s people Justin Mohamed.
Despite insisting he would not broach domestic politics while overseas, Mr Albanese then, when asked about his meeting with Tim Cook, launched into an attack on the Coalition for opposing his Digital Duty of Care Bill.
“I find it extraordinary that the opposition have said that they don’t support the digital duty of care. They haven’t seen the legislation yet. All we’ve had is the exposure draft, which is designed to get feedback,” he said.
In an interview for the ABC’s Insiders Mr Albanese spoke at length about domestic political issues including the fuel excise and immigration.
The Prime Minister told host David Speers that One Nation’s plan to cut the net zero migration figure would have a huge impact on the economy.
“One Nation are out there talking about reducing to zero, my gosh, the impact that that would have on our economy. No wonder they did no costings on it because it would be diabolical for our economy and have real consequences for issues such as aged care, health care, the hospitality sector, the agricultural sector,” he said.
Mr Albanese then waded into the internal row within One Nation’s only lower house MP David Farley and leader Pauline Hanson, suggesting Mr Farley may not be at home inside the populist party.
“David Farley is the only person to ever be elected to the House of Representatives under the One Nation label. Pauline Hanson was, of course, a Liberal candidate, then became an independent during the campaign when she was elected in 1996. So, I think he has some credibility when it comes to and also some first-hand knowledge of the needs of the agricultural sector,” he said.
That prompted Mr Speers to note that the subject matter was a “a long way from Silicon Valley”.
“It is indeed,” Mr Albanese agreed.
At Apple HQ, Mr Albanese was given a demonstration by staff about parental controls over children’s and teenagers phones and iPads.
But his meeting with Mr Cook was conducted in extreme secrecy and away from his travelling media pack who were escorted to a separate building over the road, meaning the only photographs of the encounter were taken by the Prime Minister’s personal photographer and distributed on his social media channels.
Apple staff told journalists that they could not film the faces of staff holding up the iPhones and iPads when given a demonstration of the safety features that include parents being able to set screen times, approve apps and new contacts for their children.
But when the same staff showed the technologies to the Prime Minister, they happily posed for photographs and footage.
Apple staff also spruiked the new folding phone, which is released next month, costing between $3500 and $5900.
Mr Albanese said it was important to see the Apple tools firsthand.
“It was a very fruitful discussion that we had, and then to be able to see the latest products is very important as well. One of the things that I’m not sure has been recognised fully in Australia is just the way that Australia is seen to have led the world when it comes to protecting children from some of the negative consequences of access to social media and new technology.”
Mr Cook offered no praise of Australia’s social media ban in his only comment — a post on the social media platform X.
He said they talked about “the incredible work of our teams and our longstanding commitment to Australia.”
“I was grateful to share some of our newest innovations, including strong and intuitive controls to help keep kids safe online,” he said.
